Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1887-09-22
OUR AMERICAN WOMEN.
Arbitrary Fashion Much to Blame
for Their Weakness.
IL" Civn War Implanted the Seeds of .
Saiionai Nervousn-Ss-Causes or
rTrnaturc Old tgc-Irrational
Dress and Had Ventilation.

The want OF health in America il
fast becoming proverbial. A gentle
mau of intelligence once told me that
The belief originated with the English.
and 1t i without just foundation; but l
am convinced by ocular demonstration
that the tender and fragile nature Of
American women is not myth.
The want Of physical exercise by
American girls while growing up is
one cause of their premature old age.
ouch Of the insanity that affects our
land is attributed by physicians TO the
want Of bodily outdoor exercise in
childhood and the precocious develop
mcnt Of mind.
With the ancionts physical culture
first received attention. then moral
then mental. The American girls have
n faircr. frcsher appearance from six
teen 20 eighteen years of age than for
ciguorS. but fade earlier
The loss Of health and detection of
spirits of single women in the middle
and higher class of society are mostly
from tho want of some regular occu-
patton. some definite aim. some high
and elcvaiing pursuit.
Alexander Walker SAYS: 1T would
be- easy 10 show that disease. as well
aS deformiy. is an inevitable result Of
neglect Of active du,ics." Dr. Combe
says: Inactivity of intellect aud feel
lug is very frequent prcdisposing
cause Of every form of nervous disease.
For evidence of this we have only To
look ut the numerous victims 10 be
found. who have no call 10 eNertion in
gaining the means Ct subsistence. and
no objects of interest on which TO eS-
ercise their mental faculties The in
tellect and feelings, not being provided
with interests external ~ themselves,
must either become inactive and weak
or work upon themselves, and thus be.
come diseased. The most frequent
victims OF this kind of predisposition
are females Of the middle and higher
classes, especially those OF nervous
constitution. and Of good natural abili-
ties. The liability of such persons to
melancholy. hysteria, hypochondriasis.
and other varieties of mental disease,
really depends on u state Of inliability
of the brain occasioned by imperfect
exercise"
The health Of women that work in
the fields is generally excellent-and
why? Because OF their exercise in
pure. outdoor air. U. that | could Inn
press on my countrywomcn in all the
conditions OF life tho necessity of mod
crate exercise in the open air! 1t will
give women clearer thoughts, frmer
principles. more patience. self-reliancc
and stability of character. 1t will give
vigOr and freedom TO both mind and
boly. Especially would we recon-
mend this panacea to the consldera-
tion oi young mothers. Since the
hydropathic system has become FASH
ionable we think more attention has
been paid to the general health OF the
body. A prudent diet. outdoor exer-
else, relaxation and freedom from the
use of strong medicine are tending 10
restore strength and vigor to many
shattered constitutions.
The early entrance into society OF
most American girls has its bad effect.
The night is devoted to fashionable
gayetics and the day to rest. This
accorls with the fast and go-aheada-
tive character Of our people. The dis
sipa,cd. unsettled state Of mind IL en-
genders. the intense love of excite
ment. the fondness Of admiration. are
certainly disadvantageous
American women marry too early
and live too secluded. Many are
scarcely out Of school before they have
settled down as wives and house,
keepers. The cares OF family are
devolving OH them before they have
the strength and nerve to perform
them. One reason that our female an
cestors lasted longer and had better
health was that their minds were not
SO much taxed nor the nerves so high
ly strung. They had the full use of
their powers. Their physical health
was better, their constitutions
stronger. Those who had much mental
activity generally had sufficient phys
zeal excruon TO counterbalance 1t.
Englishwomen walk and ride more.
marry later. and have by nature bet.
ter constitutions.
The Civil war had much to do with
the nervous prostration and general
failure OF health Of American people.
The suspense and anxiety attending 1t
by the absence and danger OF rela-
tiycs, the death In battle aud hospital
OF soldiers whose wives and female
relatives were dependent upon